Midfielder set for West Ham stay?

We at the Football Transfer Tavern thought that West Ham United midfielder Mohamed Diame was well and truly on his way out of Upton Park, but according to the Daily Mail this may not be the case after all.

The midfielder was thought to be a target of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and has a £3.5 million release clause in his contract leading many to assume he was on his way out of the East London club. In news that will be music to the Hammers’ fans ears, Diame told the club’s website that: “I know there are people out there saying things about me but I have spoken with the manager and told him that I want to stay here.

“I know the club want to keep me too so I will continue to give my best for them. I knew when I signed that West Ham were going to make their mark on the Premier League.”

Of course that is not exactly a claim for a life time’s devotion to the club but if Diame even stays until the end of the season that would be good news for Sam Allardyce’s side. Not to mention this would be a huge blow for Wenger who may have to turn his attention to other targets should Diame refuse to leave West Ham in this transfer window.

It has been a difficult window for Gunners fans watching other clubs actively sign up players such as London rivals Chelsea who snared Demba Ba and Newcastle United who recently completed a trio of signings from Ligue 1 in the case of Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Yoan Gouffran and Massadio Haidara.